WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI — Thousands of Washtenaw County residents have already received a COVID-19 shot while others are now just waiting until their appointment.
The Washtenaw County Health Department still intends to vaccinate more than 2,000 people the week of Jan. 18, after being forced to cancel its vaccine clinic scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 19, due to low supply, officials announced Friday.
The health department had 960 appointments scheduled for Jan. 19 that will need to be rescheduled, officials said. Those who were supposed to get vaccinated on Jan. 19 will be contacted in order to schedule a new date as soon as possible, the health department said in a post to social media Friday.
There are 2,360 COVID-19 vaccination appointments scheduled in Washtenaw County as of Jan. 15, according to county data, which also shows the Washtenaw County Health Department has administered 4,382 vaccine doses as of Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Through the week of Jan. 11, the health department reported vaccinating 2,400 people.
“People are excited to be vaccinated which thrills us, but there’s this big expectation that people that are eligible should be able to get that appointment right away,” health director spokeswoman Susan Ringler-Cerniglia said Thursday. “We’re trying to do our best with limited supplies, but everybody’s not going to be able to get an appointment right now.”
The health department has made efforts throughout the last several days to make it clear to residents that despite the state of Michigan’s decision to move to Phase 1B, they still may not be able to schedule an appointment.
“Even though we are trying to schedule as many folks that are eligible in that 1B group, we really are right now still vaccinating some folks in 1A and we’re bringing in as many of those older adults as we can, as well as a few of those essential worker groups,” Ringler-Cerniglia said.
Health officials understand the frustration from residents who are anxious to be vaccinated and want to know when and where they will get their vaccine, Ringler-Cerniglia said.
“Folks who have been calling us, calling the healthcare providers and calling everywhere and feeling like it’s a runaround, I’d say we are probably just as frustrated with that as they are,” Ringler-Cerniglia said.
Individuals within Phase 1A who have been eligible since vaccinations began last month are still being granted priority over those now eligible within Phase 1B, the health department said.
The state estimates that it could be until May before Michigan expands its vaccination efforts to the next group of people beyond groups 1A and 1B.
There are currently three sources of vaccine working to get shots in the arms of people around the state of Michigan and in Washtenaw County: Local health departments, health systems and pharmacies that have been administering vaccines to long term care facilities, like CVS and Walgreens.
Teachers are among the groups eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, but the health department said it has not started scheduling them for appointments just yet.
“We’re hoping that (teachers can schedule appointments) as early as the beginning of February but it’s tricky with the large numbers of people that are eligible and a heavy priority on our older adults right now who are more vulnerable,” Ringler-Cerniglia said.
If you believe you are among the 80,000 Washtenaw County residents currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, complete the appointment request survey online, or reach the health department at 734-544-6700, or wchdcontact@washtenaw.org.
For those who have called to schedule an appointment and did not reach a representative, the health department is reassuring callers that they will hear back within 24-36 hours if not within the same day.
The health department has restructured staffing to support the capacity for a higher volume of calls and currently have three staff members working phone lines, Ringler-Cerniglia said.
If you are currently eligible, your survey will be accepted, and you will be “in line” to receive a link (or call) to register for an appointment. You will see a confirmation screen and receive an email if your survey is accepted and it may be days or weeks before you receive a scheduling link, the health department said.
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